Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 689,I63. PatentedDc. I7, ISDH.

R. F. CARTER.

ACETYLENE GASENEHATUR. (Application lled May 31, 1901.) (No Model.)

y UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCEm RICHARD CARTER, OF NIAGARA, CANADA.

ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 689,163, dated December 1'7, 1901.

Application filed May 31, 1901. Serial No. 62.470. (No model.)

To cir/ZZ wiz/0111, it nw/y concern.-

Be it known that l, RICHARD F. CARTER, a subject of the King of England, residing at Niagara Falls, in the Province of Ontario and Dominion of Canada, have invented a new and uset'ul Improvementin Acetylene-Generators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an acetylene-gas generator which is more especially designed for use in headlights for railway-cars and other vehicles. A generator for this purpose should be small, light, and compact, so that it can be readily transported, and the same should also operate automatically until the entire charge of carbid is exhausted.

The object of this invention is the production of an acetylene-generator which meets all these requirements and in which the jarring or the vibration of the vehicle upon which the same is mounted is utilized for separating the ashes or lime of the consumed carbid from the unconsumed carbid, thereby maintaining the generator constantly in Working condition without requiring any attention on the part of the attendant.

Inthe accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical sectional elevation of a headlight provided with my improved acetylene generator, the section being taken transversely through the central part of the saine and showing the reflector omitted for the sake of clearness. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken in line 2 2, Fig. l.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in both figures.

A represents the inclosing case of the headlight, which may be of any suitable construction, that shown in the drawings being provided at its front side with a glass pane o, and at its top with a chimney d. This inclosing case is provided with a suitable door to afford access to the interior of the case for the purpose of lighting, the burner in the same and also for cleaning and repairing the parts contained therein.

B represents the refiector, and l) the burner arranged in the apex of the same, both of which parts may be of any suitable construction.

O represents the generating-chamber,which isarranged .in the rear part of the inclosing case on one side of the reflector. This chamber is preferably of cylindrical form and is 'closed at the top by a fixed head c, while its lower end or bottom is closed by a movable bottom c. This bottom is accessible on the under side of the inclosing case and is preferably detachably connected to the lower end of the generating-chamber by a screw connection, as shown.

D represents a water supply -regulating valve, which has a discharge-nozzle or drip d extending downwardly through the central part of the upper head of the generatingchamber.

Erepresents a carbid-basket, which is arranged centrally in the generating-chamber below the water-supply nozzle d, so that the water issuing from the same is delivered upon the carbid contained in the basket. Asshown in the drawings, this basket is made of woven wire; but the same may be made of perforated sheet metal. The basket is loosely supported, so that the same will be shaken from side to side by the vibration or jarring ofthe car when the same is in operation. Hy thus shaking the basket the ashes of the consumed f carbid are sifted out of the uuconsumed carbid, thereby leaving the latter in the best condition for generating gas. The carbidbasket is of conical form and tapers from its top toward its bottom. As the ashes escape through the meshes of the basket the carbid settles in the basket. Owing to the conical or downwardly-tapering form of the basket the carbid while settling therein is constantly caused to be gathered or moved toward the center of the basket, and as this center coincides with the water-supply nozzle CZ above the same every particle of carbid in the basket is automatically brought directly under the water-supply, which causes the generator to remain in perfect working order until all of the carbid has been consumed. This means of bringing all the carbid under the Water-supply is extremely simple and eiectually maintains the generator in working order until the full charge of carbid has been consumed, and the generator therefore does not require as frequent attention as would be the case if the charge of carbid had to be renewed While part of the same was still unconsumed.

The means shown in the drawings for IOO \ the same drop into the ash-pan.

loosely supporting the carbid-basket to permit the same to shake from side to side consists of a downwardlyopening socket F, which is arranged on the under side ot' the basket and lits loosely upon the upper end of a supporting rod or postf. Sufficient play is provided between the socket and the post to permit the basket to wabble or move laterally with reference to the post to a limited extent. The post is secured centrally to the bottom of an ash-pan G, which rests upon the bottom of the generating-chamber and surrounds the sides of the carbid-basket. The ashes which are sifted through the meshes of the carbid-basket upon shaking WVhen the ashes require to be removed and replenishing of the carbid becomes necessary, the lower head or bottom c of the generating-chamber is removed, which permits the withdrawal of the ash-pan, together with the carbid-basket. After emptying the ash-pan and placing a fresh charge of carbid in the basket these parts are again placed in the generatingchamber and the bottom of the latter is closed.

The water which is dripped by the nozzle d upon the carbid in the basket E is supplied from a tank or reservoir H, which is arranged within the inclosing casing above the generating-chamber and reflector. This tank is provided with a filling-tube h, which extends from its upper side upwardly through the top of the case and which is closed by a cap h/ when the generator is in use. The bottom of the water-tank is connected with the waterregulating valve D by a pipe I, which extends from the bottom of the tank downwardly to a point below the regulating-valve and thence upwardly to the valve, thereby forming a liquid seal or trap t' between the tank and the regulating-valve. The space in the upper part of the water-tank is in free communication with the outer atmosphere by means of a vent which may be arranged in any suitable manner As shown in the drawings, this vent is formed by au opening j in the cap of the filler-tube. When the gas-pressure in the generating-chamber is below the normal, the weight of the water in the tank causes the water to flow from the tank downwardly and then upwardly through the pipe containing the trap z' to the valve D and then escapes through the nozzle d upon the carbid in the basket, thereby generating gas in a wellknown manner. When the pressure of the gas in the generating-chamber rises above the normal, the water is forced backwardly from the discharge-nozzle CZ by the gas, so that no more water can ilow upon the carbid, whereby the generation of gas is arrested. If an excessive amount of gas is generated, due to an abnormal quantity of water having been delivered upon the carbid, the water is forced by the gas backwardly out of the trap into the tank. The gas which follows the water thus displaced from the trap passes down- Wardly and. upwardly through the trap and through the body of water in the tank and from the latter ont to the atmosphere through the vent-opening j, thereby avoiding a dangerous pressure in the generating-chamber. When the gas-pressure again drops to the normal, the water from the tank again fills the trap z' and the normal operation of the apparatus is resumed.

The water-supply pipe I is provided inside of the headlight-case with a valve 7c, by which the water in the tank maybe positively shut olf from the generating-chamber. This valve and its handle are arranged wholly within the casing, so as to prevent tampering with the apparatus when the same is not in use. The shut-off valve is opened fully when the apparatus is in use, and the regulation of the water-supply is effected by the stem d of the regulating-valve D. As shown in the drawings, this stem has a needle-point and upon being turned is moved toward or from the seat of the valve by means of a screw connection with the valve-case in the manner common to this class of Valves. The stem d of the regulating-valve extends through the top of the inclosing case and is provided at its upper end with a regulatingarm L, so that the regulating-valve can be adjusted from the outside by the attendant. The regulating-valve is held in its adjusted position by engaging the valve-arm L with one of a row of notches formed in a segment Z on the upper side of the inclosing case or by other suitable means.

The gas which is produced by the combination of the water and carbid passes from the top of the generating-chamber th rough a pipe M into the top of a purifying or drying chamber N, thence downwardly through this chamber into the lower end thereof, and thence upwardly to the burner b by means of a pipe n, which connects the lower part of the purifying or drying chamber with the burner. The purifying-chamber is arranged in the rear part of the inclosing casing on that side of the reflector opposite to that on which the generator-chamber is located. The purifying-chamber is lilled with charcoal or similar material, so that the gas in passing through the same is dried and purified before it reaches the burner. In order to prevent an undue pressure at the burner, the upper part of the purifying-chamber is provided with a watersealed relief or vent which is closed by water when the gas-pressure is normal and which is opened by-an excess gas-pressure and permits the excess gas to escape. As shown in the drawings, this vent consists of a pipe O, which extends from the upper end of the purifying-chamber upwardly to a point above the water-tank, thence downwardly to a point in line with the lowermost part of the trap fr', and thence upwardly into the bottom of the water-tank, thereby forming a water seal or trapp in the pipe O between the purifyingchamber and the water-chamber. During IOO IIO

I the normal generation of gas the water from the tank fills the trap p and prevents the gas from escaping through the same. The water from the tank is prevented from fiowinginto the purifying-chamber by reason of the upper crook p of the vent-pipe O being arranged above the level of the water in the tank. If the pressure of the gas in the purifying-chamber rises above the normal, the gas displaces the water in the trap p and passes upwardly through the water in the tank and then escapes from the latter through the vent-openingj. By avoiding an excess pressure of the gas at the burner the same is caused to burn uniformly and Without flickering. The relief or vent pipe O also serves to prevent undue pressure in the generating-chamber if the water is shut off immediately after a large quantity of water has been delivered upon the carbid, in which case the excess gas could not back out through the water-supply pipe.

This arrangement of the parts of the generator within the casing and around the reflector is very compact and is especially suitable for headlights in which only a small amount of space is available.

The swiveling connection shown in the drawings between the carbid-basket and its support for permitting the basket to wabble on the support may be varied, and I therefore do not wish to be understood as limiting this invention to the particular construction of swiveling connection shown in the drawings.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination with a generating-chamber having an internal support and a watersupply, of a perforated carbid basket arranged in said chamber, and a swiveling connection between the carbid-basket and said support for permitting the basket to wabble on said support, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a generating-chainber having an internal support in its lower part and a water-supply in its upper part, of a perforated conical carbid-basket which tapers downwardly and which is arranged in the generating-chamber below the water-su pply, and a swiveling connection between the lower end of the carbid-basket and said support which permits the basket to wabble on the support, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a generating-chamber having a water-supply at its upper end, of a post arranged in the lower part of the generating-chamber, and a perforated carbidbasket arranged below said Water-supply and having a socket on its under side which fits loosely on the upper end of said post, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a generating-chamber having a water-supply at its upper end, of a post arranged centrally in the lower part of the generating-chamber,and a downwardlytapering carbid-basket arranged below said water-supply and having a socket at its lower end which iits loosely upon the upper end of said post, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with a generating-chamber having a removable bottomand a watersupply in its upper part, of an ash-pan resting on said bottom and provided with a support, a perforated carbid-basket arranged in the generating-chamber below the water-supply, and a swiveling connection between the carbid-basket and said support, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with a generating-chamber having a water-supply centrally at its upper end and a removable bottom, of an ashpan resting upon said bottom and provided centrally with a post, a downwardly-tapering carbid-basket arranged in said pan below the water-supply, and a socket arranged on the lower end of the basket and fitting loosely on the upper end of said post, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with the inclosing casing, of a generating-chamber arranged in the inclosing casing and provided with a carbidsupport, a water-tank connected with the gen` erating-chamber by a pipe or passage, a shutoff valve arranged in said pipe or passage and having its handle arranged within the casing, and a regulating-valve arranged in said pipe or passage and having its handle extending outside of the casing, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with the inclosing casing, of a generating-chamber arranged in the inclosing casing and provided with a carbidsupport, a water-tank connected with the generating-chamber by a pipe or passage, a shut-off valve arranged in said pipe or passage and having its handle arranged within the casing, and a regulating-valve arranged in said pipe or passage between the shut-off valve and the generating-chamber and having its handle extending outside of the casing, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination with a generating-chamber having a carbid-support and a water-supply, of a purifying-chamber connected with the generating-chamber and having an outlet, and a trapped vent connected with said purifying-chamber, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination with a generatingchamber having a carbid-support and an elevated water-tank connected with the generating-chamber and having a vent, of a purifying-chamber connected with the generatingchamber and having an outlet,rand a ventpipe which extends from the purifying-chamber upwardly above the water-tank, thence downwardly below the tank and thence upwardly into the bottom of the tank, substantially as set forth.

ll. The combination with the inclosing casing, the reiiector arranged in the same, and the burner arranged in the reflector, of a generating-chamber arranged in the casing on 011e side of the reiiector, a purifying-chamber IIO arranged in the casing on the opposite side of the reflector, a Water-tank arranged in the casing above the reflector, a trapped supplypipe connecting the Water-tank with the generating-chamber, a pipe connecting the generating-chamber With one end of the purifying-chamber, and a delivery-pipe connecting the opposite end of the purifying-chamber with the burner, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination With the inclosing casing, the reflector arranged in the saine, and the burner arranged in the reflector, of a generating-chamber arranged in the easing on one side of the reflector, a purifying-chamber arranged in the casing on the opposite side of the reflector, a Water-tank arranged in the casing above the reflector, a trapped supplypipe connecting the Water-tankwith the generating-chamber, a trapped vent-pipe connecting the purifyingchamber with the Water-tank, a pipe connecting the generatingchamber with one end of the purifying-chamber, and a delivery-pipe connecting the opposite end of the purifying-chamber with the burner, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 24th day of May, 1901.

RICHARD F. CARTER.

Witnesses:

THOS. M. BRENNEN, F. LE BLEND, Jr.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 689,163.

It is hereby certied that the residence of the patentee in Letters Patent No. 689,163, granted December 17, 1901, upon the application of Richard F. Carter, for an improvement in Aoetylene-Gras Generators, was erroneously Written and printed Niagara, Canada, Whereas said residencey should have been Written and printed Niagara Falls, and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein Office.

Signed, eountersigned, and sealed this 21st day of January, A. D., 1902.

Canada that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Fatent [SEAL] F. L. CAMPBELL,

Assistant Secretary of the Interior.

Countersigned F. I. ALLEN,

Commissioner of Patents. 

